The Japanese beetles are back! The last few years they haven’t been as bad because of natural diseases that have built up over time since they moved in as well as trouble they have had lately in hard droughty soils.

Between 2000 and 2007, 44 to 54 million Americans did not have health care insurance. Still others have health insurance, but have increased their out-of-pocket costs in order to reduce monthly premiums, and as a result, cannot afford potentially lifesaving drugs. Several free and low-cost prescription drug programs exist for low-income individuals under the age of 65, especially if they do not have health insurance.

It’s time for the biennial showcase in Princeton of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture’s latest research and extension work - work that is not only conducted on its western Kentucky research station, but throughout the entire college. This year’s event is 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT Thursday, July 23 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton.

The Washington County 4-H Sharpshooters started off their competitive season successfully when they hosted along with the Marion Co. 4-H Sure Shots in an invitational trap and archery shoot on Saturday, June 6. Approximately 120 youth from 14 counties competed in the event held at the Hahn Trap Range in Chaplin.

If you have been out and about in your garden you have probably noticed that there are several diseases of plants beginning to rear their ugly heads after our warm, damp weather. I have noticed this weekend that a little blight has started to show up on the bottom leaves of some of my tomato plants. There are several diseases that can attack tomatoes, usually early blight is the leading problem this time of year, along with septoria leaf blight and some of the wilts such as Verticilium and Fusarium. If your tomato plants start to yellow and wilt out of the blue and just up

Amber Renee Fields of Washington County High School was recently presented the school’s highest agricultural honor, the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, sponsored by Monsanto Company.

Fields, the daughter of Ricky and Fran Fields of Springfield, received the award for excellence in academics, leadership and agricultural work experience. Her significant experiences and accomplishments have included Chapter President and Regional Vice President of FFA and has been accepted at University of Kentucky College of Ag with a major in agricultural biotechnology.

Washington County is home to three of the 92 markets across the state that are members of the 2009 Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Roadside Farm Market Program. The Washington County Certified Roadside Market members are: Flaggy Meadow Fiber Works & Sunshine Alpacas of Kentucky, Maple Hill Manor and St. Catherine Farm. In joining the Kentucky Farm Bureau Certified Roadside Farm Market Program, these markets have committed to offering quality products and service to their customers.